Liverpool Transfer News: Sadio Mane Talks Manchester United, Jurgen Klopp, More

Liverpool’s summer acquisition Sadio Mane has revealed he snubbed interest from Manchester United because he feels Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is the “right coach” for his development. 

Mane joined Liverpool from Southampton in a £34 million move last month, having impressed during his two seasons in the Premier League.

Speaking with the Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce, he opened up on why he opted for Anfield over Old Trafford:

"

Yes, it was true [United interest].

There was interest from a lot of clubs, not just Manchester United, but as soon as I knew Liverpool were interested I just felt it was the right club with the right coach. It was right for me to come here.

Liverpool are a massive club with a big history that has won many trophies over the years and as soon as I was told of the possibility to come here and I knew the manager wanted me I said yes.

"

Mane seems to be an ideal fit for the Klopp blueprint at Anfield. He’s a player who possesses so many natural gifts in terms of his physicality, powerful running style and agility.

Under Ronald Koeman at Southampton, he refined those attributes brilliantly, becoming a major attacking threat.

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There will still be work for the German coach to do if the aforementioned sum is to be considered as value for money in the long run. After all, Mane does drift in and out of matches, while his end product can sometimes be erratic.

His attitude came into question at times last season, too. Koeman was unhappy with Mane after he turned up late to a team meeting, meaning he was withdrawn from the starting XI for a game against Norwich City. The Senegal international insists he’s learned from that.

“It was something I learned from,” he said. “It is not something I intend to allow to happen again. It was a learning curve for me. I am never going to repeat it, no matter who the manager is.”

Nevertheless, he’s a goalscorer, with 21 netted in the last two Premier League seasons. Ste Hoare from Fresh Press Media feels as though that’ll have been a key factor in Klopp pursuing the player:

Klopp seems to be a major draw for players, too. Indeed, in a different interview with Pearce, Georginio Wijnaldum stated it was the German who was a massive factor in him turning down Everton and Tottenham Hotspur when making his move from Newcastle United.

Mane also recounted some of his earliest memories of Liverpool, including the club’s iconic UEFA Champions League final win in 2005.

“The one game that really strikes me is the Champions League final versus AC Milan,” he said. “I was thinking about that game on the day I signed for Liverpool. It is a famous game and it struck everyone in Africa at the time.”

FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/Getty Images

Mane will be keen to make his own mark at Anfield, and there will be a lot of expectation on him following a big-money move. As noted by Bleacher Report’s Jack Lusby, he’s set to be part of an exciting attacking setup:

At the moment, Liverpool do seem a better fit for Mane. With Jordon Ibe moving on, the Reds needed a player who can offer a surge of pace with the ball at his feet; if the Senegalese can provide that dynamism, it should see him become a key part of Klopp’s plans in the 2016-17 campaign.

Liverpool have landed a footballer who has been making steady progress during his time in English football and an attacker with the potential to become one of the most feared in the division.

Should Klopp aid his progress as a player, expect more rising stars to be keen to follow Mane to Anfield to work under the German.